Rising in the far southwestern portion of Virginia, and extending partially into extreme southeastern Kentucky and northern Tennessee, is a great landform of immense beauty and natural diversity. This site is about The High Knob Landform.

The peak known as High Knob caps a remnant massif ( large mountain mass ) that is part of an extraordinarily diverse mountain landform, the High Knob Landform ( HKL ).

The High Knob Massif is the remnant highcountry of the HKL. It extends from majestic Guest River Gorge southwestward to the Duffield Valley, to include its rugged northwestern arm called Little Stone Mountain.

In between Little Stone Mountain and the core of the remnant massif lies a arrowhead-shaped valley, the majestic Powell Valley of Wise County, Va., which marks the end of a great erosional breach in the HKL that continues southwestward as the beautifully rolling valleys of Lee County, Va., past historic and famous Cumberland Gap to Norris Lake and the I-75 corridor of northern Tennessee.

From a geological perspective, majestic Powell Valley of Wise County marks the ending of the great erosional breachment of the High Knob Landform which formed via headward erosion over time toward the northeast.

January 2013
Powell Valley OverlookNortheast End of Calcareous Heart of HKL

The northwestern mountain flank of the HKL is especially rugged and distinct with extraordinary natural features such as Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Cave Springs Wilderness Area, and Roaring Branch Gorge ( to note only a few ).

When you stand upon lofty High Knob you are standing on a landform whose roots extend downward for several miles beneath your feet and whose surface spreads outward across ten counties and three states.

But what truly makes the HKL special is that its landform possesses endemic characteristics on many major levels of the natural sciences. This is the realization that must be learned in order to truly appreciate this great mountain landscape, since it's loss due to ignorance for what it is would be one of the greatest tragedies in the history of Virginia and the United States.

This is not a landform made for resource extractions.

It is the fresh water giver, clean air maker, and major weather changer of this region.

*The HKL is the most dominant structural feature of the 3125 square mile Cumberland Mountain Overthrust Block, the largest piece of deformed continental crust of its kind exposed in the Appalachians ( also called the Pine Mountain Thrust Sheet ).

The Cumberland Overthrust Block is the northwestern-most major thrust sheet in the great southern Appalachian fold-thrust belt and is considered to be the classic model for mountain building ( orogenic ) processes of folding and thrust faulting associated with "thin-skinned" tectonics.

*The breached Powell Valley Anticline of the HKL is the only geological structure in Virginia ( and known in the Appalachians ) to host caves in all major cave bearing stratas from Cambrian through Mississippian age.

[ The Powell Valley Anticline is the structural foundation, and support for the High Knob Landform. However, as noted in my extensive follow-up comments at the end of this section, the HKL is much more than just a geological structure ].

*Embedded within the northwestern mountain flank of the
High Knob Landform, adjacent to Fern Lake and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, is the unique circular basin in which lies Middlesboro, Kentucky. This is widely felt to be an astrobleme.

*The High Knob Massif contains the longest backslope
( distance from its S-SE base to N-NW crestline that is not associated with a ridge or spur ) of any mountain in western Virginia and the Cumberland Mountains.

*The High Knob Massif and its NW arm contain one of the greatest concentrations of mountain gorges of any singular mountain mass in the southern Appalachians ( a result of its large size and amazing structural geology ).

*The 2000 feet of vertical drop within only 0.8 mile off Grindstone Ridge Dome of High Knob is one of the greatest short-distance elevation changes west of the Blue Ridge ( across the western expanse of the Appalachians ).

Head of Powell Valley
( A Topographic Dome Shape )Grindstone Ridge Dome of High Knob Massif

*The northwestern mountain flank of the High Knob Landform
( geologic NW forelimb of Powell Valley Anticline ) possesses unusual beauty and potential to become a Linear Park & elongated conservation corridor with many scenic and already designated sites along its Little Stone, Stone, and Cumberland mountains ( a continuous mountain with different local names ).

The Dual Norton Reservoir System, Flag Rock Recreation Area, Little Stone Mountain Gap-Powell Valley Overlook, Rimrock Lake and Appalachia Lake are technically part of the High Knob Massif but mark the true beginning of this continuous NW mountain flank of the High Knob Landform ( stretching from Pickem Mountain & the City of Norton to Cumberland Gap and the I-75 corridor ).
All the same mountain but with different local names given for specific sections.

( NW Flank HKL Along Right Side )
Little Stone Gap of High Knob MassifPowell Valley Overlook In Late Spring 2010

Many other cultural and physical features are present along this truly awesome and magnificent mountain flank.

An increasingly wide and majestic karst valley of rolling ridges and open expanses becomes a dominant topographic feature of the landform ( eroded calcareous core of the ancient High Knob ) southeast of its NW Flank and southwest of its remnant massif.

[ While Wallen Ridge is technically an "interior ridge" of the High Knob Landform, it joins with Powell Mountain to form the beautiful and historic Wallen Creek Basin adjacent to The Divide
( North Fork of Clinch River Gap ) and High Knob Massif ].

This image illustrates how BIG the remnant massif of High Knob is as snow, the white on the image, covers most of its elevated highcountry except for portions of its northwestern, northern, and extreme southeastern bases ( via a significant snow, ice & rime event in December 2002 with a SE air flow component that upsloped across the massif ).

Note how wide the white area is across the High Knob Massif compared with that capping the adjacent crestlines of Black Mountain, along the Virginia-Kentucky border to the west, and Clinch Mountain to the southeast.

Pine Mountain can be seen farther northwest, stretching southwestward from Breaks Gorge on the VA-KY border across southeastern Kentucky ( with variable amounts of snow cover along its length ).

Looking To Pine Mountain Along The HorizonAutumn Colors On The Tennessee Valley Divide

Observe how The Cedars, of Lee County, Va., show up beautifully amid the breached calcareous core of the HKL as the elongated dark green strip eastward of the V-notch appearing white sections marking snow that is capping Cumberland & Brush mountains of Cumberland Gap NHP ( the Martins Fork Basin being less well covered and illuminated by snow in between the high mountain crestlines, to create a darker section amid the V-shaped whiteness laying across northeastern sections of the National Park ).

A more general covering of snow is observed north of the massif, across central-northern Wise County and the northwest portion of Dickenson County in Virginia. Note the MANY mountain ridges and hills across this area, and to the west of Pine Mountain, and how small they appear in comparison to the High Knob Massif.

The High Knob Landform ( HKL ) is HUGE, of course, and its remnant massif is very large. In fact, the highcountry of the remnant massif of High Knob is larger than some counties in eastern Virginia and the state of Kentucky!

*The HKL contains the biodiversity hotspotfor the entire continental United States for the richness & rarity of limited range species ( as designated by Precious Heritage: The Status of Biodiversity in the United States ).

*Upper elevations of the High Knob Massif contain types of Northern Hardwood and High Elevation Cove Forest communities that are endemic to the southern Appalachians
( and very rare amid the Cumberland Mountains ).

*The Clinch and Powell rivers have been recognized as a national hotspot of aquatic diversity with the Clinch River Basin ranked number one in the United States, out of 2111 watersheds, for the greatest diversity of rare and imperiled aquatic species ( Precious Heritage, 2000 ).

The northwestern slopes of the High Knob Landform, southwest of the Virginia community of Ocoonita, also drain into the Upper Cumberland River Basin to collectively contribute to the greatest assemblage of aquatic rarity on the North American continent.

Note that species in this section are mostly not arranged in any specific order. They are shown only to illustrate a few examples of the vast diversity of life which has been documented across the High Knob Landform ( Upper Tennessee & Cumberland Basins ).

These seasonal weather variations are enhanced in the High Knob Massif where higher elevations, atypically wide base to base widths, and excellent air flow exposures work to make it the wettest area in Virginia ( High Knob Massif - Black Mountain being the wettest in both Virginia & Kentucky over the longer term ).

*The HKL generates an orographically enhanced upslope flow on southwesterly airflow trajectories that is unique to Virginia, and the southern-central Appalachians, in its enhancement of both rainfall and snowfall ( especially strong in the orographic forcing season of November-May across the High Knob Massif ).

An analogous enhancement occurs on rainfall across southern portions of the Appalachian chain, and along outward projecting portions of the Virginia Blue Ridge, but rarely ever includes significant snowfall like occurs in the High Knob Massif area.

*The High Knob Massif generates a major enhancement of precipitation on southeasterly air flow trajectories during the cold season, under specific conditions, that appears to be indigenous to the massif ( thermally indirect mesoscale or TIM circulation ).

*The City of Norton is the wettest town or city in Virginia on an annual basis ( over decades ) as verified by data scans at the UVA Climatology Office in Charlottesville, the Southeastern Regional Climate Center, and the North Carolina State Climate Office's Regional Database.

This is due to Norton's location within the orographic lifting zone of the High Knob Massif, and to the other unique weather features forced by the atypically wide base to base expanse of the massif.

Another notable cold season aspect is the number of days with 1" or more of snow depth, with a mean of 83 days observed during the 8 winter seasons from 2003-04 to 2010-11 across northern slopes of High Knob Lake Basin
( mean of 11.9 weeks per season ).

*The High Knob Massif generates distinct snow shadows that change with variations in wind direction ( unique for a mountain of its height with the major forcing of this being again related to its atypically large base to base widths and excellent exposures to air flow of varying trajectories ).

It is common for huge snow depth differences to develop during the cold season between the remnant highcountry of the High Knob Landform and locations leeward ( downstream ) of its sprawling massif and rugged northwestern mountain flank
( this being aided by the Black mountains and Pine Mountain for NW air flow trajectories ).

This shadowing effect contributes to the Tri-Cities of NE Tennessee getting 5 to 15 FEET less snow than the High Knob Massif during any given winter season!

( * ) - Indicates that total was estimated or
partly estimated due to severe winter conditions.

( M ) - Denotes that total precipitation was greater than rain gauge total due to evaporation between hand-measurements and loss in falls of snow too deep for the rain gauge to physically contain ( 4"-diameter NWS rain gauge ).

[ All measurements courtesy of Superintendent Gary Hampton and Staff of the Big Stone Gap Water Plant in South Fork Gorge ].

*The 6.31" monthly mean for 41 consecutive months measured at Big Cherry Dam of the High Knob Massif is the highest ever observed in Virginia over such an extended period of time( November 2008 to March 2012 ) despite up to 3.50" or more of loss per year due to evaporation between hand-measurements and falls of snow too deep for the rain gauge to physically hold.

*The High Knob Landform helps force an atypical decrease in annual precipitation amounts traveling UP Basin in the Clinch River watershed on air flows with mean SW components.

Annual Precipitation Difference from Norton to Lebanon

14-Year Annual Mean ( 1990-2003 )

City of Norton: 58.54"

Town of Lebanon: 42.96"

( -15.58" less per year in Lebanon )

Long-term differences are simply amazing as exemplified by Burkes Garden sitting upon the Tennessee Valley Divide at the head of the Clinch River Basin, where despite its high elevation and long record period ( 1896-Present ) there has been only one year ( January-December period ) with more than 60.00"

of total precipitation ( 63.02" in 1972 ).

Differences verses upper elevations are even greater between

the High Knob Massif and head of the Clinch River Basin.

While Big Cherry Dam and Burkes Garden measuring sites are close to the same elevation,

Big Cherry Dam averaged 24.70" more per year than Burkes Garden during the 2009-2011 period

( despite significant precipitation losses totaling up to 3.50"+

per year at Big Cherry Dam that were not included ).

Burkes Garden

2009-2011 Precipitation Totals

2009: 54.68"

2010: 47.73"

2011: 50.69"

3-Year Mean: 51.03" ( M )*

( M )* - Indicates 2 missing days during December 2010.

[ Precipitation is hand-measured daily in Burkes Garden with a

8"-diameter NWS rain gage and once every 7 days on average at Big Cherry Dam ( 4"-diameter NWS rain gage ) ].

*The HKL is a verified and prolific generator of orographic cloud forms above ground, and is likely the most prolific "internal" cloud generator in Virginia ( and perhaps, the Appalachians ).

Rime deposition on trees and fog drip from trees are major secondary moisture sources in the High Knob Landform with upslope flow across its mountain flanks & remnant massif, as well as cold air drainage from its high terrain, being key to condensing moisture out of the air for extraction by vegetation.

This often gives travelers of the famed "Crooked Road" a visual treat along what is by many accounts the most scenic section of the Country Music Highway ( U.S. Route 23 ).

Rime deposition on trees and fog drip from trees are major secondary moisture sources across the High Knob Massif, adding greatly to its annual water budget ( making this wettest portion of the High Knob Landform even wetter than rain gauges record ).

*The High Knob Massif contains the most water bodies upon its crest of any singular mountain known in the central-southern Appalachians ( perhaps, in all of the Appalachians, find one with more and it will be listed ).

Norris Lake is by far the largest in the High Knob Landform with 800 miles of total shoreline surrounding 34,200 acres of water
( mean elevation 1020 feet ). Norris Lake is formed by union of the Clinch and Powell rivers of the Upper Tennessee River Basin.

Norris Lake extends 73 miles up the Clinch River
and 56 miles up the Powell River.

October 2007
Water Elevation 3120 feetNew Dam At Big Cherry Lake of High Knob Massif

*The High Knob Massif is the only known mountain in the central-southern Appalachians where one can drive by five different lakes ( as well as numerous wetlands ) and never drop below 3000 feet in elevation until either the very end, or beginning, of the journey.

Wetlands In The High Knob Massif
( These Are HIGH Conservation Sites )

There are many wetlands in the High Knob Massif with high valley floors that naturally have low flow gradients prior to plunges through deep mountain gorges which feed into the Clinch & Powell rivers of the famed Upper Tennessee River Basin.

A Few Highlighted Locations

( Elevations Above Mean Sea Level )

High Knob Lake Wetland

3500+ feet

Big Cherry Basin Wetlands

3125 to 3200 feet

Cliff Mountain Ponds

3155 to 3205 feet

Wolf Creek Wetland

3000 feet

Glady Fork Wetlands

2900 feet

Bark Camp Basin Wetlands

2735 to 2740+ feet

Machine Creek Wetland

2700 feet

Stock Creek Wetland

2500 feet

Mountain Sinkhole Pond

1476 feet

These high valley floors are excellent places for lakes and beaver dams, both of which contribute to wetland formation amid the High Knob Massif. Some of the wetlands are very small, while others are extensive. A few examples will be highlighted.

Wetlands are extremely important in the High Knob Massif since they:

1 ). Increase the diversity of LIFE

2 ). Clean water before it enters lakes & streams

3 ). Reduce & slow down flash flooding

plus do MANY other things important to all life

( including YOURS )!

4 ). *Are Frost Pockets from which cold air drains into and from throughout the year.

*Cold air pools in these high valleys and eventually drains from them to generate and enhance significant cold air drainage corridors in the High Knob Massif that feature Mixed-Mesophytic Northern Hardwoods which finger downward from endemic Southern Appalachian Northern Woods ( at elevations above 3300-3600 feet ).

A small wetland which beavers often try to make larger, with flooding around the bathhouse facility, is found just above High Knob Lake between the Amphitheater and Lake Shore ( recent zoomed in image below ).

April 12, 2012

Elevation 3535 feet

High Knob Lake Wetland

Big Cherry Basin Wetlands

South Fork of the Powell River

( Powell River Watershed )

April 12, 2012
Water Elevation 3120 feetBig Cherry Lake of High Knob Massif

633 Million Gallons of Water In 250-Acre Lake

October 2012Big Cherry Lake In Autumn Colorations

April 12, 2012
Elevation Around 3200 feet

Big Cherry Basin of High Knob Massif

Mainstem Valley of South Fork of the Powell River

In contrast to the localized wetland at High Knob Lake are the extensive wetlands of Big Cherry Basin, which occur both near the backwaters of the lake itself and well upstream of its influence on high valley floors that form the headwaters of South Fork of the Powell River.
( The Next Image Series Begins At Lower Right )Separation Between Lake & Main Wetland Valley

Note backwater wetland of lake in upper left of image.Image Series From SW to NE Along Wetland Valley
( These Wetlands Are Well Above Big Cherry Lake )

Extensive sphagnum mats, or what some might call muck, fill this long and beautiful wetland valley which starts at Big Cherry Lake and stretches into a thick, mixed evergreen-deciduous forest in the basin head beneath the majestic peaks of High Knob and

Grindstone Ridge Dome.

American Beaver ( Castor canadensis ) Controlled

Zoomed In Section With Beaver Dams & Cut Trees

Another backwater wetland is located in the valley adjacent to the mainstem wetland valley which was followed in above images. The adjacent valley, on the northwestern side of the basin, has a more wooded

( evergreen ) wetland as illustrated by the image below.

( Along The NW Side of Fork Ridge )

Wetland Valley Along Northwest Side of Basin

Big Cherry Basin wetlands are among many jewels of this lofty mountain basin, that rests as a water capturing wonder in the sky!

Glady Fork Wetlands

Big Stony Multi-Gorge Basin

( Clinch River Watershed )

April 12, 2012

Elevation Around 2900 feet

Dual Wetland Valleys of The Glades

Another jewel of the High Knob Massif is formed by the lofty stream valleys of Glady Fork of Big Stony Creek, resting between 2880 and 3000 feet above sea level.

Upper Glady Fork Wetland Valleys ( Western )

Upper Glady Fork Wetland Valleys ( Eastern )

Lower Glady Fork - Confluence of Wetland Valleys

Although drier than Big Cherry Basin over the longer term, with less winter snowfall and rime formation, Glady Fork Wetlands can have excessive summer rains

( 12"+ in a month ) when orographics & feedbacks work together as clouds build vertically above the adjacent chasms of the Big Stony Basin Multi-Gorge Complex.

High Knob Massif

Majestic Wetlands of The Glades

Zoomed Into Oxbow Meander & Beaver Pond

Bark Camp Wetlands

Upper Little Stony Creek Basin

( Clinch River Watershed )

April 12, 2012

Water Elevation 2734 feet

Bark Camp Lake of High Knob Massif

Yet another jewel sitting upon this remnant highcountry massif of the High Knob Landform is majestic Bark Camp Lake with another extensive series of wetlands resting in high valleys upstream of the lake.

Wetland Valley Upstream of Lake ( With New Boardwalk )

Note that what looks like a string lying across the wetland above the lake ( from this high altitude ) is actually the new Boardwalk across the wetland valley!

April 12, 2012

Upper Little Stony Creek

New Boardwalk Across Wetland Valley

Extensive Wetlands Amid Upper Little Stony Basin

Again observe extensive wetlands which rest both upstream and downstream from the new boardwalk across the water filled sphagnum and peat fields.

Making this especially nice, of course, is that the boardwalk connects to the Lake Trail and extensive Chief Benge Trail System for a gorgeous hiking experience through a wetland valley.

Bark Camp Wetlands

Chief Benge & Lake Trail System

October 2012

Robinson Fork - Bark Camp Lake Basin

Upper Little Stony Basin Wetlands In Autumn

Wolf Creek Wetlands

Stock Creek Multi-Gorge Basin

( Clinch River Watershed )

January 31, 2007

Elevation Around 3000 feet

Wolf Creek Wetland Valley of High Knob Massif

A wetland-bog system with a long history of existence is located in a remote section of the Powell Mountain Block of the High Knob Massif, contrasting with the small wetland highlighted next.

Stock Creek Wetland

Mainstem of Stock Creek Gorge

( Clinch River Watershed )

April 12, 2012

Elevation Around 2500 feet

Small Wetland Along Mainstem of Stock Creek

A small wetland developing in recent years amid a low flow section of Stock Creek Gorge, via the handiwork of American Beavers ( Castor canadensis ), illustrates how the phrase "working like a beaver" can make a big difference if efforts are correctly applied!

Developing Stock Creek Wetland

Note wetland across the right side of image

A wet, low gradient stream section in Machine Creek Basin of the Guest River has potential to also develop into a more extensive wetland when Beavers get into that remote location ( if they have not already ).

Nestled in the southeastern base of the High Knob Massif are many significant natural wonders, with a small pond formed in a natural sinkhole whose bottom is plugged being one such feature ( interesting in a massif where dams are either man or beaver made ).

Clinch River of Upper Tennessee BasinNatural Sinkhole Pond In The Low Elevations

American Copperhead ( Agkistrodon contortrix ) snakes have officially been documented as occupying this sinkhole pond. Beware!Cliff Mountain Ponds
North Fork of The Clinch River
( Clinch River Watershed )

January 31, 2007
Elevation Around 3200 feetCliff Mountain Ponds of High Knob Massif

The southwestern end of the High Knob Massif is formed by rugged Cliff Mountain, of the Powell Mountain Block, which towers more than 2000 vertical feet above

"The Divide" and North Fork of the Clinch River Gap.

At least a couple of ponds ( man-made or natural ) rest high upon the mountain, with one in particular being large and apparently within a natural depression that shows no signs of recent disturbances by man.

Very interesting and beautiful.

Cliff Mountain of High Knob Massif

Pond In Natural Appearing Depression

There are many other wetlands and man-beaver made ponds across the High Knob Massif. Above images have only highlighted some of the most significant and interesting.*The High Knob Massif possesses the greatest local concentration of advanced to expert skill level whitewater creeks in Virginia, and contains the largest number of American Whitewater rated Class IV-V+ stream segments of any singular mountain in the eastern United States.

January 25, 2010
South Fork of the Powell RiverSouth Fork Gorge of High Knob Massif

*The NW Flank of the High Knob Landform generates the most pristine and extreme whitewater creeks in Kentucky with birth of Martins Fork and Shillalah Creek from the lofty backcountry of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.

The Whitewater potential of this landform is undeveloped and largely unknown outside of the local area, with current conditions of steep creeks making most un-runnable ( see NOTE below ).

[ It could be the only single mountain in the eastern United States to have five consecutive Class V-V+ whitewater creeks ( at normal to higher volumes ) lined up in a row, amid different major gorges, from west to east across its mass ) ].

*The HKL is the only major mountain landform which contributes water to the Clinch, Powell, and Cumberland river basins. Collectively, these basins possess the greatest assemblage of aquatic diversity in North America.

[ The Middlesboro Syncline of the Cumberland Overthrust Block
( deeply dissected Appalachian Plateau ) also contributes water to the Cumberland, Powell, and Clinch ( small amount ) rivers from the ranges of the Black, Little Black, and Log mountains ].

NOTE: All caves in the region are CLOSED due to the White Nose Syndrome Danger.

*The HKL contains the DEEPest cave systemeast of the Rockies, and north of Mexico, on the entire North American continent ( at 1263 vertical feet in depth ). Potential exists for increases in depth, and for two different karst systems to become the deepest in eastern North America to the north of Mexico ).

*The HKL contains the largest cave system in Virginia, and the 66th longest known in the entire world ( as of July 30, 2013 ) out of hundreds of thousands of known caves across earth ( with potential over time for significant advancement in rank ).

*The HKL-Clinch River Valley contains the highest cave density and concentration of significant caves in Virginia, with 50 percent of the significant caves of Virginia within a single hydrologic unit in the High Knob Landform ( HKL ).

*The HKL and adjoining sections of the Clinch River Valley contain some of the most spectacular surface karst in Virginia, with standing solution conduits ( the most famous being The Natural Tunnel ) and sinkholes that reach vertical depths of more than 100 feet and lengths of 500 to 1000+ feet. Karren, karst windows, sinking streams, and unroofed, or open, cave passages are common amid certain stratas.

*The High Knob Massif can handle more total precipitation without flooding ( rainfall and/or rain + snow melt ) than other locations across western Virginia since most creeks draining its highcountry sink, or partially sink, into the subterranean prior to reaching regional base levels marked by the ecologically renowned Clinch and Powell rivers.

Karst Landscape of High Knob LandformMaple Gap of High Knob Massif In Spring

Since much of the highcountry of the massif is upheld by more resistant stratigraphy, such as quartzarenites, it hides the fact that it is largely a karst landscape with hydrologically complex conduit systems. This being especially true since the High Knob Landform possesses a form of scarp-slope karst that gives little evidence of its presence on the surface ( relative to its calcareous valleys ).

*Drainage from the High Knob Massif has been responsible for formation of the famed Natural Tunnel, amid The Natural Tunnel State Park, and the hydrologically complex conduit system of the Rye Cove Karst Basin ( the largest karst cove in Virginia ).

*The HKL contains dozens of globally rare subterranean species, many found no where else in the world, with connections via hydrologically complex conduit systems to other adjoining
bio-hotspots like the Rye Cove Karst Basin.

*The Cedars Millipede ( Brachoria cedra ), which was thought to be endemic to The Cedars of Lee County, was recently discovered at two different locations on High Knob to reinforce the physical connections between the eroded calcareous core and remnant massif of the HKL ( Brachoria cedra is a globally rare species ).

The Virginia Natural Heritage Karst Program tracks 76 species of rare cave animals within the Upper Tennessee River Basin of southwestern Virginia, most of which are in the High Knob Landform. In addition, many new and undescribed species have been discovered during recent years.

More than 50 Burial Caves used by Native Americans have been documented in Virginia, the majority being discovered within the Clinch, Powell, and Holston watersheds of the Upper Tennessee River Basin ( Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology ).

( Ron Pinson )
Wilderness Road State ParkHunting In More "Modern" Times

Artifacts discovered within dozens of rock shelters
in the High Knob Landform date from the Early Archaic Period
( ca., 8500-6500 B.C. ) through the Late Woodland Period ( ca., 1000-1650 A.D. ) to cast new light on changing cultures and land use patterns through time ( Journal of Cave and Karst Studies ).

When combining all the photographs in this section with all the different groups of information nothing can deny that this is a great, continuous mountain landform!

Whether it be called the High Knob Landform, Powell Valley Anticline, or simply by the multitude of individial local names for different sections it is important that it be recognized as a continuous, consolidated, landscape of an ancient mountain landform. Only then does its true greatness and significance become realized for all to see!

Browning, W.W., ( 2013 ). Biodiversity and Climatology of the High Knob Landform: With Special Emphasis on the Clinch and Powell River Watersheds of the Upper Tennessee River Basin. Work in Progress.

Follow-Up Comments By Author:

Why Is It Important To Recognize The HKL?

There are countless reasons to recognize the High Knob Landform ( HKL ) and NOT one has to do with myself being the first to ever name it in such a way ( since the name High Knob was given LONG before I was born ) or the first to document it by bringing together major natural sciences to form a single picture!

Some geologists may say that the HKL is nothing more than the great Powell Valley Anticline, which has been recognized as a geological structure since at least the 1920s and 1930s
( by famous geologists Chester Wentworth, Charles Butts,
and John Rich ).

However, the HKL is MUCH

more than just a geologic structure!

Photographs used throughout this introduction and website are illustrating that for everyone to see with their own eyes.

To say that the High Knob Landform ( HKL ) ONLY equals the Powell Valley Anticline would be analogous to saying that the skeleton alone is equal to the human body.

The skeletal system of the body has no life, no functional use, without the brain, heart, lungs, and all the other organs, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and skin completing the human system!

In the same way, all of these organs and tissues can not function as a unit without a skeletal system to give them structural support.

The two can not be separated.

In like manner, the Powell Valley Anticline can not be separated from the High Knob Landform since it functions as the HKL's structural support.

The HKL would simply not exist as the incredible landform it is without the structural framework which holds it all together.

There is no doubt about that.

However, this structural framework alone, by itself, is not the HKL.

The HKL is the combination & resultant product of an infinite, amazing, assemblege of natural forces working together over a truly great vastness of time, which encompasses more than just its structural framework as defined by geology.

The capabilities, limited as they may be, of the natural sciences of today allow us as scientists to study the products of the intimate and very highly interconnected workings of all these grand natural forces ( allowing, at least, for the generation of a BIG picture ).

Just like the human body can not be adequately described by highlighting only it's skeleton, or heart, so the HKL can not be justly defined, understood, or described without bringing together ALL of the major natural sciences which outline its domain.

And make no mistake, when this phase of my work is done it will only be a mere OUTLINE. Despite being way more than 1,000 pages in length, assembled over more than 20 years of time, it will only be a basic foundation upon which future studies and works will add, update, and modify as needed over time as new information and knowledge becomes available.

My hope in this process is only to make a POSITIVE contribution to the world around me, amid this precious, flicker of time which I am blessed to have in this life.

A positive contribution in this matter is bringing understanding to what the High Knob Landform is, what it contains, and what it truly represents from the foundation of the natural sciences ( generating a BIG picture ).

Not from speculation, or guessing, or fiction, but from reality of what is, documented over time for anyone to prove.

Any new terminology or concept may sound strange at first, but over time when proven to be fact it becomes commonly used and natural. It is in this manner that I work to encourage usage and recognition of the terms "High Knob Massif" and "High Knob Landform," as they apply in scientific works, common writings, or in any usage in which they are valid.

This work is not biased toward anyone or group.

Period!

It is for the United States Forest Service, the National Park Service, the City of Norton, Towns of Appalachia, Big Stone Gap, Coeburn, Dungannon, Duffield, Pennington Gap, Jonesville, and many others, The Clinch Coalition, The Nature Conservancy, ALL private citizens, students, and teachers that live on or adjacent to the HKL, and for all counties and states into which it extends.

This work is simply for EVERYONE in order that all may learn about this great landform for a better, more postive future for it and everything impacted by it.

This work is NOT associated with any environmental group, and has not been funded by any groups.

It is also done to stimulate and encourage future scientific studies, which up until the past decade or two have been blatantly lacking across this great landscape ( ** ).

**That is, outside of the endless search for hydrocarbon resources and extractive entities.

How could a great landform like the HKL

go unrecognized for so long?

The answer to that question rest's largely upon the former, since no one expected to find, or went looking for, a great natural landform amid the Appalachian Coalfields.

My father was a coal miner for 40 long years, and this is no rebuke of that profession, but merely a part of the reality.

How could the deepest cave system east of the Rockies, and north of Mexico, on the entire North American continent go unrecognized for so long?

It's been here all along ( i.e., for a very long time )!

The answer is again part of the reality, that the focus of attention had previously been placed upon other better known karst regions across Virginia and the United States prior to the 1990's.

Such has been the case with EVERY major branch of the natural sciences except for geology, since detailed geological studies were necessary from a hydrocarbon perspective.

And just what was discovered when

the geology was studied in detail?

Only a little thing named the Cumberland Mountain Overthrust Block ( called Pine Mountain Thrust Sheet by some ), a recognized world-class example of "thin-skinned" tectonics, which has been cited in more scientific works, books, and papers than anyone has time to list.

It only revolutionized world-wide thinking about how thrust belts form and function in the creation of mountains!

With such a unique and fascinating structural framework, should it really be so shocking that such a great natural landform has developed upon it, down within it, and across a large portion of it's 3125 square mile expanse?

No, it really should not.

But there is so much more!

Like the human body has a soulwhich can not be seen with the naked eye, or explained by the natural sciences, the High Knob Landform ( HKL ) possesses an ability to alter and change invisible properties.

As I have written many times in the past, occasionally some of these "invisible" forces become visible to our eyes as the HKL, and it's remnant massif, alters the fluid atmosphere such that gravity waves appear ( given sufficient moisture for condensation processes ).

This has been important in my research, and I want to highlight this bit below from a former writing:

"The greatness of the HKL reaches far beyond what can be seen with the naked eye. From a climate perspective, this mountain landform is a force to be reckoned with, and is like a massive boulder in a river, that deforms the water and forces it to change course.

In this case, the High Knob Massif deforms the very air. If it were removed from the landscape, the regional climate would change, natural entities of untold significance would be lost, and lives near and far would forever be different, regardless of whether or not they ever laid eyes upon this massif.

Like many of the taller mountains of the Appalachians, the High Knob Massif excites gravity waves in the atmosphere.

However, unlike typically narrow crested Appalachian ridges, the unusually wide base to base width of the High Knob Massif, coupled with its good airflow exposure, forces much greater orographic impacts than would otherwise be expected from a mountain whose summit stands 1500 vertical feet lower than the highest in Virginia.

[ Analogy: A tall, narrow rock sticking up out of a river will alter the flow, but a wide rock; although lower in height, will deform the flow of the river in a much greater manner ].

The High Knob Massif generates, dissipates, and transfers enormous amounts of energy to places far removed from where it stands, with traces of this energy transfer being followed by the trails of gravity waves that ripple outward away from the massif through the fluid atmosphere in all directions."

Gravity Waves From High Knob Massif to North Carolina

November 10, 2000 at 2001 UTC

That bit of writing hints at some of the great forces at work which we occasionally see revealed, like this incredible NASA visible image above illustrates. A great flowing river of deformed air, orginating amid the High Knob Massif, which transfers energy outward through the fluid atmosphere to places as far away as western North Carolina or beyond.

Remember, a WIDE rock in a river!

There are other things emitted by the High Knob Landform which may not be readily seen or realized, until something "tragic" happens like the burning of the grand old Lookout Tower.

A rash of emotions were then revealed, even though what was really causing them was MUCH MORE than a mere pile of wood. Yes, it was indeed a grand ole tower, but it was the HKL that made it so beloved.

And, of course, there is the great cultural apsect of the HKL which has not even been mentioned. The famous Wilderness Road, grand Cumberland Gap, are only the most famous parts of a long legacy of national history made within this great landform.

One would think that Tourism Authorities would be JUMPing
at the chance to tie all this together into one grand package.

Are you listening out there?

It's called the High Knob Landform ( HKL ), or Powell Valley Anticline ( if you are strictly pushing geology ).

And now, as I also often like to say,

here is the BOTTOM LINE:

I did not wake up one glorious morning with the great realization of the High Knob Landform. I did not go in search of defining the HKL. I stumbled across it more than 20 years ago on the road to discovering some incredible climatic features unique to Virginia.

That is where this scientific study all began for me ( it really started when I was just a kid, the first time I looked upward in amazement at the 2000+ feet of vertical drop off Grindstone Ridge Dome in the Head of Powell Valley )!

But, as I was well taught at the University of Virginia's College in Wise, one can not truly define something without first stepping back to see the BIG PICTURE.

Like a large puzzle that begins as an unsorted pile, pieces were scattered from here to there, and only slowly, over time did they begin to emerge into this GREAT, GRAND picture that is the HKL.

Many greater ones than I have added pieces to this puzzle in years and decades past, and many greater than I will do so in the years and decades to come ( MY HOPE ).

It really does not bother me if my contribution passes away with time, IF the HKL becomes recognized by scientific studies, local, state, and national agencies responsible for it's care, and generally loved and appreciated for what it contains and represents.

A BIG dream?

Not really.

I think the majority who see High Knob sprawled across the great horizon with its lofty basins, gorges, lakes, wetlands, and plunging whitewater creeks, the awesome view of Powell Valley nestled deeply amid its towering mountain walls, tumbling Roaring Branch Gorge, Keokee Lake, the beautifully rolling Clinch & Powell River valleys which finally unite like passionate lovers at its southwestern end, the great Cumberland Gap National Historical Park with its looming "White Rocks," can sense in their hearts that this is no ordinary landscape!

When they learn of all the incredible things not so readily visible and talked about, which have been discovered far above, upon, and far beneath its surface, and that ALL of these are connected to ALL of those above which are so readily visible, amid a SINGLE great landform, there will be no possible way to deny what it is.

Price List For Photographs

The High Knob Landform website takes tremendous pride in presenting gorgeous, high quality photography to document this amazing landscape of the southern Appalachians.

Due to interest in these exceptional photographs, a standard price of 0.25 cents per square inch has been established by its regular contributing photographers for purchase of individual photo prints ( without matting or framing ).

Double-matted, framed photographs may also be purchased at additional cost.

For specific information on sizes and prices, please contact the individual photographer of each picture of interest.

About Me

I graduated with a bachelor of science degree from the University of Virginia's College in Wise in 1993, with special interests in natural sciences & mathematics. My core interest was climatology.
For more than 20 years I have written weekly newspaper weather columns and many articles on weather and climate.
I've given numerous public presentations related to my 26 years of research on the High Knob Landform.
Specific interests include orographic forcing, gravity wave generation, wind induced rain gage undercatches, rime deposition & fog drip on trees and vegetation as secondary moisture sources, nature of cold air drainage flows, mesoscale & local boundary layer airflow interactions between the terrain and atmosphere, and the documentation of biodiversity and its relationship to the climatic system ( a composite system including all living and non-living components of the natural world ).